Tangent
Open-source Markdown notes app that shows the trail of linked notes you follow as sliding panels and a map.
- Verified facts
- 5 of 5
- Alternatives ranked
- 6
- Approved reviews
- 0
- Visits sent from here
- 1
About Tangent
Tangent is a free desktop notes app for people who think in links. Like Obsidian, it works on a folder of plain Markdown files on your own computer and connects notes with [[double bracket]] wiki links, so an existing Obsidian vault's links carry over. What sets it apart is how it shows your path: each link you follow opens as a new panel in a horizontally sliding thread, and a map view draws the notes you visited and how they connect, so you can retrace a train of thought later. It styles Markdown as you type and supports tags, to-do checkboxes, LaTeX math, Mermaid diagrams, embedded media and a query language for saved searches. There is no server or account; sync is left to Git, iCloud, Dropbox or similar. Tangent is Apache-2.0 open source, runs on Mac, Windows and Linux, and is still described by its developers as an open alpha.
Best for: Obsidian-style note takers who want to see and retrace the path of linked notes they follow..
Pros and cons
What works
- Thread view and map view keep track of where you've been in a web of notes
- Plain Markdown files with Obsidian-compatible wiki links
- Free and open source with no account or server
- Query language for saved searches across links, tags and to-dos
Why people leave
- Still an open alpha, so expect rough edges
- No mobile apps and no built-in sync
- Much smaller plugin and community ecosystem than Obsidian or Logseq
Top Tangent alternatives
See all 6- 1
Obsidian80.5The app Tangent was modelled on: same local Markdown and wiki links, plus mobile apps, sync and a huge plugin library.
- 2
Zettlr69.8Open-source Markdown editor with wiki links and citations, aimed at research and long-form writing.
- 3
Logseq67.8Free, open-source and local-first, with an outliner and daily journal approach to linked notes.
- 4
SilverBullet67.4Open-source linked Markdown notes you self-host and open from any browser, including on your phone.
- 5
Joplin65.5Free and open source with built-in encrypted sync and mobile apps, if you need notes everywhere.
Why people left Tangent
In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.
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Tangent: common questions
Is Tangent free?
Yes. Tangent is free, open-source software.
Is Tangent open source?
Yes. The source code is on GitHub at suchnsuch/Tangent.
What platforms does Tangent run on?
Tangent is available for macOS, Windows and Linux.
What are the best alternatives to Tangent?
The highest-ranked Tangent alternatives right now are Obsidian, Zettlr and Logseq. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.